United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Pokhara. He arrived in Pokhara by a special helicopter of the Nepali Army.
Secretary General Guterres, who is on a four-day visit to Nepal, was warmly welcomed at Pokhara's old airport by Gandaki Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey and Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya with a tableau and cultural program. Upon arrival in Pokhara, went to Pumdikot, where stands a huge idol of Lord Shiva.
Secretary General Guterres will stay overnight in Pokhara. Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya informed that he is staying at the famous Fish Tail Lodge in the Lakeside. Fish Tail Lodge has provided a room for Secretary-General Guterres where British King Charles, former US President Jimmy Carter and other distinguished guests had spent the night.
In December 1981, the then Crown Prince of Britain and the incumbent King Charles spent the night in that room, from where you can view the Phewa Lake and the snow-capped mountain peaks.
Anil Shrestha, managing director of Fish Tail Lodge, informed that distinguished guests from different countries have been staying in that room ever since. He said that the hotel management is ready to welcome special guests. He said that the food will be prepared according to the demand of the guests.
After staying at Fish Tail overnight, Secretary-General Guterres will head to the Annapurna Base Camp on Tuesday morning. All the arrangements for his visit have been made by the Nepali Army.
From the ABC, he will call on the world community and nations to reduce the effects of climate change. Also, while staying there, he will interact with local citizens and take stock of the impact of climate change.
Annapurna Base Camp is situated at an altitude of 4,110 meters
Preparations have been made as to where the helicopter boarded by Guterres will land. He will be welcomed by 34 sisters clad in traditional Gurung attire. We will also talk to him about the recent impact of climate change," said Dilip Gurung, the general secretary of Chomrong Tourism Business Committee.”
However, he is worried as the weather has deteriorated since today.
"It has been cloudy since 1 am today, one of the helicopters that came for preparation returned without being able to land, but the sky will hopefully clear tomorrow morning," he said.
After returning from the ABC, the Secretary General will talk to journalists at Pokhara Airport and then go to the hotel. Sources said that he will call on the world community to minimize the effects of climate change and help the affected countries from the shores of Phewa Lake.
This is the second time that a distinguished guest visited Pokhara after the President of Bangladesh Mohammad Abdul Hamid in 2076 BS.
